Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-07-11


which has not many times been equaled in
this city in point of attendance and enthusi-
asm- The meeting was nominally stated
gathering of the Anti-Poverty society. but in
view of the published excommunication of
Dr. MeGlynn, it resolved itself INTO a ratifica
ton meeting for Dr. McGlynn. Long before
so'clock the academy was crowded, and the
thousands who were turned away were ad
mitted to Irving hall, across the street from
the Academy, where an overflow meeting
was held. Hundreds who were unable to en-
ter either hail stood about the streets and
joined in the enthusiasm. James A Gahan,
Of The Catholic Herald, presided over the
meeting in the academy, and JOHN Feeney. of
st. Stephens parish, took charge Of the meet
ing in Irving hall.
A chorus, composed of members of St
Stevens choir, was present on the stage of
the Academy. and as DR. McGlynn walked
upon the stage sang Marching to Freedom
Then came shout of welcome from the vast
audience that was never equalei in the
Academy. Four thousand people cheerei as
with one voice aud mighty roar of sound
went out to those on the sidewalk. and il was
there taken up and spread to Irving hall
mm muir, voice from one of the balconies
shouted; They'll hear this in Rome This
was the signal for renewed cheering, and the
building fairly tremblel
As soon a. quiet was regained Chairman
Gahan made a short Introductory speech. in
which he referred to the position of DR.
MctIlvnn to the church He said:
We are here tonight to let
Rome know that in matters po-
litical not one jot of our allegiance is rem
dered % any power or potentate, but in its
entirety is given to the law and constitution
Of the United States All of YOU went to
your several churches to-day. but in not one
church did any one dare TO stand up and read
the decree of Michael Augustine Corrigann
Kisses and cat calls He then formally pre-
sented DR. McGlynn who began by decIar-
ing that man had clear and simple guide
wlthin--his conscience, and that God would
never condemn any one who followed the die
tates of his conscience. In obeying that he
was forever obeying the will of God, and this
last proposition be said was dogma Of the
Roman Catholic church Ii was the duty of
a man to refuse to obey the commands of the
pope or a tribunal of the Roman Catholic
church if they con demned what he believed
| to be true without giving his doctrines trial
1T is no tribute to God continued the
speaker, ito poke out our eyes so that we can
not see the truth for ourselves Catholic
theology teaches that all truth is one The
| theology is often perverted to crafty the
| lust and crime of those in power, but the
teaching is always good, though the teachers
| are often wicked. All truth comes from
h. -
| the interpreter it is falsely represented And
| it is this misrepresentation that has driven
multitudes of individuals-aye, and whole
nations-out of the Catholic church"
He denied that he was inconsistent in
| speaking as be was. He had tolerated great
| deal while In the ministry in order to be near
| the poor, and then said: If now speak as
l have never before spoken, it is not because
| of inconsistency that | have changed nv
| style, but because the times require 1t.
| TCheers | ! am compelled TO speak as | do To
teach you the difference between the false
| hoods. crimes. and chicaneries of mere &c
clesiastical machine and that ideal church of
which Christ is the sponsor and master We
must learn to distinguish between men and
| Christ, between reverence for an authority
| which edifes and obedience to mere ma
| chine. II is a notorious fact that religion is
vanishing fast from among us, and that the
| Roman Catholic countries fall quicker and
| deeper into atheism and crime than others
and the people there grow tc
hate the priests The truest de
votion to the church is seen whert
it is in the minority, and has lit
tie power As long as Catholic people con
tinue to let the pope do as he peases in poll
tics as well as in religion, SO long will the
| Irish. German and American poor be solt
out for any price that Rome can get in the
hope of strengthening and restoring the tenn
| poral power of the machine. The papacy is
a machine, with nothing but the cupiditl
and lust for money and power, and it is tbs
knowledge Of this that has ruined all Catholic
countries and plunged them into atheism
Il admit that this is hardly the kind of ser
mon would have preached from the pnlpi
of St Stephens. 1t would have been my
| first and last of that kind, but they hav
turned me out of st Stephens. The machin
has made a mistake this time 1t ha'
liberated me- loud cheers.l In a moment
of blindness and folly it has created such
condition of affairs that there no reason VIII,
! should restrain my true sentiments
at is true that for many years have no
been blind to these truths, yet / have re
pressed myself where could have reproved
so that / would be allowed to continu
preaching and enjoying priestly communion
with God could suffer all but being Gu
off from that holy communion which is 8
| much to us men who are cut off from all lust
| of the flesh. While endeavoring to perform
| my priestly duties and in allegiance to m
conscience once went forth on semi
political platform, attracted not by polite
but by humanity, to show how
priest could sympathize in relieving tbs
wants of the masses. Loud cheers.I The
Islander me who call me a politician | nov
preach the fstherhood of God and the brother
hood of man. loud cheers The fools for
get that | never appeared on political plat
form never took the stump for Cleveland
they lie who say / did. ! may have been be
trayed into talking in favor Of Cleveland, am
once welcoming my friend, Mr.. McSweeney
said something in the presidents favor.
was the nearest approach to political speec
] ever made and il was in reference to tn
Catholic church An effort had been mad
to drag religion into politics Bitter feeln
had been created by Cleveland vetoing
, grant of So, 900 to the Catholic protectory.
said then that Cleveland was right, and sa
so now [Cheers.l
"Wben | went to Chickering hall on the Ii
of October last / went there in the cause G
humanity. When a certain little gsntlemal
III this city forbade me to keep my engage